The U.S Department of Transportation awarded $10 million in TIGER funding to Seattle area's Sound Transit in support of constructing an extension of Link light rail from Sea-Tac Airport to South 200th Street.

The 1.6-mile project, which includes an elevated guideway, station and parking facilities, is planned to open in September 2016, four years earlier than envisioned in the voter-approved Sound Transit 2 plan and at the same time light-rail service to the University of Washington will begin.

Earlier this year, the Sound Transit board approved an accelerated schedule for construction and operation of the South 200th Street light-rail extension based on the project's state of readiness to move forward with final design and construction, its potential to increase ridership and its provision of up to 1,100 parking spaces concurrent with the opening of University Link. The agency plans to utilize a design-build delivery method for the South 200th extension.

The South 200th elevated guideway and station will offer passenger platforms with covered waiting areas, connections to local and rapid ride bus services, dedicated areas for passenger pickup and drop off and vanpool parking. Secured bicycle storage, street improvements to accommodate traffic circulation, bicycle and pedestrian access, landscaping and public art are also elements of the project.